After three years of training he became a barrister[1] being called to the bar by the Inner Temple; although it is unlikely he ever practised as a barrister.
Marriage and children
On 28 June 1881, he married Lady Catharine Sarah Cecil, daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Exeter,[1] at St Thomas Marylebone, and had three living sons, one of them predeceasing him. He also served in the Northamptonshire Militia between 1876 and 1884.[1]
In 1891 the 4th Duke of Cleveland died, leaving the line of succession to the dukedom unclear. The case was decided in 1892 when the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords held him to be the 9th Baron Barnard and inheritor of the vast estates of Raby although he did not inherit the title of Duke of Cleveland which became extinct.[2] Lord Barnard therefore left the Charity Commission to concentrate on the management of the estate.[3] Contemporary sources[2] describe him in this role as:
[winning] the hearts of all by his unaffected kindliness and consideration, and by the interest he evinced in everything that concerned the welfare of his estates and neighbours.[2][3]
Masonic career
Lord Barnard's masonic career commenced in 1874 when he was initiated into Apollo University Lodge No. 357 while studying at the University of Oxford.[3] When in London he became a member of Lodge of Friendship No. 6, where one of the members was John Fawcett who was Provincial Grand Master of Durham at the time.[3]
His association with the Province of Durham commenced during 1892 when he joined Rose of Raby Lodge No. 1650 at Staindrop.[3] This was the village nearest to his Raby Castle home. Two years later he was installed as master. Subsequent masonic accolades followed when in 1895 he was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden for the Province of Durham [3] and in the same year appointed Junior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England. He joined Lambton Lodge No. 375 and was installed as Master shortly afterwards. He became a member and Past Master of the distinguished Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 into which Prince Arthur of Connaught was initiated. On the death of Hedworth Williamson during 1900, Lord Barnard was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Durham.[1]
His legal training and business skills vastly improved the organisation of freemasonry in north east England, with membership increasing from 3,330 to 9,000 during his tenure.[3] Two lodges, Lord Barnard Lodge No. 2935 at South Shields (consecrated during 1902) and Vane Lodge No. 3110 at Bishop Auckland (consecrated in 1905) were named in his honour.[3]
In November 1917, following the death of their first son in France, Lady Barnard fell ill and died on 16 March 1918.[6] Lord Barnard died nine months later, on 28 December 1918; his funeral was held New Year's Eve.[3] A masonic memorial service was held at Durham Cathedral,[2] at which the Dean of Durham James Welldon stated:
[he] succeeded by inheritance to a great position upon which it had not been possible for him with complete certainty to reckon. He accepted it in the simple spirit of duty and made best use of it while life and health were his, for the good of his fellow citizens.[3]
References
^ abcdefghijklmnoWho's Who 1916. Oxford University Press. 1916. p. 172.
^ abcdThe Official Gazette of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham 1908 to 1919. Durham Freemasons. 1919. p. 172.
^Keeling-Roberts, Margaret (1981). In Retrospect, A Short History of the Royal Salop Infirmary. North Shropshire Printing Co., Wem, Shropshire. p. xiv. ISBN0-9507849-0-7.
^"University intelligence". The Times. No. 36573. London. 30 September 1901. p. 4.
^Coulson, Tom (1992). The Rt Hon Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard – A Short Masonic Biography. Durham Freemasons. pp. 26–43.